JP2014101032A - Fuel cell vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To arrange a hydrogen supply pipe in a fuel cell vehicle without increasing the number of components and the weight.SOLUTION: A hydrogen supply pipe 16 for supplying hydrogen from a hydrogen storage container 14 to a fuel battery 12 is arranged along a brake line 20. The brake line 20 is protected by component members of a vehicle body and a protector etc. Thus, the hydrogen supply pipe 16 is also protected by the component members of the vehicle body (a floor panel etc.) and the protector etc. Preferably, the brake line 20 and the hydrogen supply pipe 16 are held by the same holder 30.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell vehicle equipped with a fuel cell and a hydrogen storage container for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell.

  As is well known, a fuel cell generates power when hydrogen is supplied to an anode electrode and an oxygen-containing gas (for example, air) is supplied to a cathode electrode. Recently, attempts have been made to mount this type of fuel cell on a vehicle body as a driving source, that is, to construct a fuel cell vehicle.

  Usually, the fuel cell is disposed under the floor near the seat in front of the vehicle body or in a front box (so-called motor room). On the other hand, a hydrogen storage container for supplying hydrogen to the anode electrode of the fuel cell is disposed at the rear of the vehicle body. Of course, a hydrogen supply pipe through which hydrogen flows is provided between the hydrogen storage container and the fuel cell.

  As can be understood from this, a fuel cell vehicle has more wiring and piping than a general automobile that uses an internal combustion engine as a travel drive source. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, the arrangement of the high voltage wiring, the low voltage wiring, the cooling water pipe, and the hydrogen supply pipe (hydrogen pipe) is studied.

  Here, since hydrogen is a combustible gas, it is necessary to prevent hydrogen from leaking from the hydrogen supply pipe and entering the passenger compartment as much as possible. Patent Document 2 proposes an arrangement for this purpose.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-12595 JP 2009-292190 A

  In the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a configuration for arranging the hydrogen supply pipe is added, but for this reason, the number of parts increases, the configuration becomes complicated, and the weight increases. There is a bug.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a fuel cell vehicle capable of arranging hydrogen supply pipes without increasing the number of parts.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a fuel cell vehicle equipped with a fuel cell and a hydrogen storage container for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell,
A hydrogen supply pipe through which hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen storage container to the fuel cell flows is disposed along the brake line.

  The brake line is protected by vehicle body components, protectors, and the like. In the present invention, since the hydrogen supply pipe is arranged along the brake line, the hydrogen supply pipe can be protected together with the brake line by a structural member, a protector or the like of the vehicle body. For this reason, the concern that the hydrogen supply pipe is damaged is eliminated.

  In addition, in this case, since components, protectors, and the like for protecting the brake line are used, it is possible to avoid an increase in the number of parts and a complicated configuration and an increase in weight.

  The hydrogen supply pipe is connected to one side of the fuel cell on the front side of the vehicle body, and a hydrogen discharge pipe for discharging reacted hydrogen from the fuel cell is provided on the one side of the fuel cell on the rear side of the vehicle body. It is preferable to connect. As a result, it is possible to avoid the entry of droplets into the fuel cell and the occurrence of condensation in the hydrogen discharge pipe. Therefore, freezing can be avoided even when the fuel cell vehicle is operated in a cold region.

  The hydrogen supply pipe and the brake line are preferably held by the same holder. This also contributes to avoiding an increase in the number of parts and a complicated configuration and an increase in weight.

  According to the present invention, since the hydrogen supply pipe is arranged along the brake line, a protector or the like for protecting the brake line can be used for protecting the hydrogen supply pipe. For this reason, it is not necessary to newly provide a structure for protecting the hydrogen supply pipe. Therefore, it is possible to avoid an increase in the number of parts and a complicated configuration and an increase in weight.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing a schematic overall configuration of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows arrangement | positioning of a brake line and a hydrogen supply pipe. It is a partial cross section perspective view which shows the state which accommodated and protected the brake line and the hydrogen supply pipe | tube in the protector. It is a schematic whole perspective view of a vehicle body floor. It is the principal part front view which showed the positional relationship with a center console, a hydrogen supply pipe | tube, and a brake line. It is a principal part schematic plan view which shows the connection position of a fuel cell, a hydrogen supply pipe, and a hydrogen discharge pipe.

  Preferred embodiments of the fuel cell vehicle according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing a schematic overall configuration of a fuel cell vehicle 10 according to the present embodiment, and an arrow A direction and an arrow B direction indicate the front of the vehicle body and the rear of the vehicle body, respectively. Moreover, the arrow C direction and the arrow D direction are the left side and the right side, respectively. The fuel cell vehicle 10 is mounted with a fuel cell 12 disposed in front of the vehicle body (in the motor room MR near the front wheels 11, 11) and a hydrogen storage container 14 disposed in the rear of the vehicle body. Note that reference numeral 15 in FIG. 1 indicates a rear wheel.

  The fuel cell 12 is, for example, a solid polymer fuel cell in which an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode is interposed between a pair of separators. In this configuration, the fuel gas flow path is formed in the separator facing the anode electrode, while the oxidant gas flow path is formed in the separator facing the cathode electrode. The above is well known, and therefore illustration and detailed description are omitted.

  The fuel cell 12 is configured by stacking a plurality of single cells along the vehicle width direction.

  The hydrogen storage container 14 is a hydrogen supply source that supplies hydrogen, which is fuel gas, to the anode electrode via the fuel gas flow path. That is, a hydrogen supply pipe 16 is connected to each of the hydrogen storage container 14 and the fuel cell 12, and hydrogen in the hydrogen storage container 14 is introduced into the fuel cell 12 through the hydrogen supply pipe 16.

  The fuel cell vehicle 10 is equipped with a compressor (not shown), and the atmosphere (compressed air) compressed by the compressor is supplied to the oxidant gas flow path as an oxidant gas. Of course, an oxidant gas supply pipe (not shown) is connected to the compressor and the fuel cell 12, and the compressed air is introduced into the fuel cell 12 through the oxidant gas supply pipe.

  The fuel cell 12 further includes a hydrogen discharge pipe 18 (see FIG. 6) for discharging reacted hydrogen and an oxidant gas discharge pipe (not shown) for discharging compressed air containing reacted oxygen. Are connected.

  The fuel cell vehicle 10 is provided with a braking system. That is, the braking system decelerates or stops the fuel cell vehicle 10 based on the driver's brake operation.

  The braking system includes a brake line 20 shown in FIG. As is well known, the brake line 20 includes a brake pipe 22 and a brake hose 24. In general, the brake pipe 22 is made of metal, and the brake hose 24 is made of rubber. Accordingly, the brake hose 24 is softer and more flexible than the brake pipe 22.

  The brake line 20 is connected to the master cylinder 25 (see FIG. 1). The hydraulic pressure generated in the master cylinder 25 by the driver's brake operation is transmitted to the front wheel wheel cylinder 26 and the rear wheel wheel cylinder 28 by the brake fluid in the brake line 20.

  In the above configuration, the brake line 20, that is, either the brake pipe 22 or the brake hose 24 is held by a plurality of holders 30 provided on members constituting the vehicle body, for example, various panels.

  The hydrogen supply pipe 16 is disposed along the brake line 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Accordingly, in addition to the brake line 20, the hydrogen supply pipe 16 is also held in the holder 30. The hydrogen supply pipe 16 and the brake line 20 extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body along a center console 52 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) described later.

  Most of the brake line 20 is protected from a stepping stone or the like by being surrounded by a structural member of the vehicle body or housed in the protector 32 shown in FIG. Note that reference numeral 33 in FIG. 3 indicates a floor panel.

  As described above, since the hydrogen supply pipe 16 is disposed along the brake line 20, most of the hydrogen supply pipe 16 is also surrounded by the components of the vehicle body or accommodated in the protector 32. . Accordingly, the hydrogen supply pipe 16 is also protected. The protector 32 also serves to hold the hydrogen supply pipe 16 and the brake line 20. That is, the protector 32 also serves as a holder.

  As an example of the “vehicle body component”, a vehicle floor panel 50 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 may be mentioned. That is, the floor panel 50 is formed with a center console 52 directed upward. The hydrogen supply pipe 16 and the brake line 20 are arranged at the lower corner of the center console 52, and further rise along a vertical wall 51 that defines the motor room MR (see FIG. 1) at the front end of the floor panel 50. (See FIG. 4). Thereafter, the hydrogen supply pipe 16 is connected to the fuel cell 12 in the motor room MR. Reference numerals 54a and 54b in FIG. 5 are front seats.

  The strength of the floor panel 50 is improved by the cross members 56a and 56b. Even if an external force acts on the vehicle body and a seat rail (not shown) presses the center console 52, the lower corner of the center console 52 is unlikely to be deformed. For this reason, the hydrogen supply pipe 16 and the brake line 20 are sufficiently protected.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the hydrogen supply pipe 16 extends from the rear side of the vehicle body, and is a fuel cell via an L-shaped manifold 34 facing the rear side of the vehicle body on the front side of the vehicle body on the right side surface of the vehicle body. 12 is connected. On the other hand, the hydrogen discharge pipe 18 is connected to the fuel cell 12 via an L-shaped manifold 36 facing the ground on the rear side of the vehicle body on the right side.

  The hydrogen supply pipe 16 and the hydrogen discharge pipe 18 are arranged so that the hydrogen discharge pipe 18 is close to the fuel cell 12 (in other words, the hydrogen supply pipe 16 is separated from the fuel cell 12) in order to avoid interference with each other. Arranged.

  The fuel cell vehicle 10 according to the present embodiment is basically configured as described above. Next, the function and effect will be described.

  When the fuel cell vehicle 10 is driven, the fuel cell 12 is operated. That is, the fuel cell 12 is heated to a predetermined temperature, and hydrogen from the hydrogen storage container 14 and compressed air obtained by the compressor are supplied to the fuel cell 12.

  Hydrogen flows through the hydrogen supply pipe 16, is introduced into the fuel cell 12 through the L-shaped manifold 34, and contacts the anode electrode while flowing through the fuel gas flow path of each single cell. With this contact, hydrogen is ionized to generate protons. Protons move to the cathode electrode by the proton conducting action of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. Further, the electrons are used as an electrical energy source that energizes a motor (not shown) or the like that is electrically connected to the fuel cell 12.

  On the other hand, the compressed air is introduced into the fuel cell 12 through the oxidant gas supply pipe, and contacts the cathode electrode while flowing through the oxidant gas flow path of each single cell. In the cathode electrode, oxygen in the compressed air, protons that have moved through the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and electrons that reach the cathode electrode by energizing the motor or the like react to generate water.

  Along with the above electrode reaction, power is generated by the fuel cell 12, and the motor and the like are energized as described above. As a result, the front wheel 11 and the rear wheel 15 of the fuel cell vehicle 10 rotate.

  Hydrogen consumed by being supplied to the anode electrode is discharged to the hydrogen discharge pipe 18 via the L-shaped manifold 36. Further, the compressed air supplied to the cathode electrode and consumed is discharged to an oxidant gas discharge pipe (not shown).

  Here, the hydrogen supply pipe 16 is connected to the L-shaped manifold 34 facing the vehicle rear side as described above. Accordingly, the direction of the hydrogen flowing through the hydrogen supply pipe 16 is changed by the L-shaped manifold 34, so that the flow velocity is reduced. Hydrogen is mixed with water vapor to impart moisture to the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. However, if the water vapor is in the form of droplets, the droplets enter the fuel cell 12 to reduce the flow rate of hydrogen. It is prevented from entering. In addition, there is an advantage that a rectifying effect can be obtained.

  Further, since the hydrogen discharge pipe 18 is close to the fuel cell 12, the hydrogen discharge pipe 18 is heated by the fuel cell 12. For this reason, it is avoided that the temperature of the discharged hydrogen is excessively lowered and that condensation is caused in the hydrogen due to this.

  For the reasons as described above, for example, even when the fuel cell vehicle 10 is operated in a cold region, it is possible to prevent the inside of the fuel cell 12 and the hydrogen discharge pipe 18 from freezing.

  While the fuel cell vehicle 10 is running, it is assumed that, for example, a stepping stone hits the floor panel. In the present embodiment, since the hydrogen supply pipe 16 is protected together with the brake line 20 by the structural members of the vehicle body, the protector 32, and the like, the hydrogen supply pipe 16 is prevented from being damaged. For this reason, it is possible to avoid leakage of hydrogen.

  In addition, vehicle body components (such as the floor panel 50) and protector 32 that protect the hydrogen supply pipe 16, and the holder 30 that holds the hydrogen supply pipe 16 protect or hold the brake line 20. That is, in the present embodiment, a configuration for protecting or holding the brake line 20 is used instead of providing a new configuration for protecting or holding the hydrogen supply pipe 16. For this reason, it becomes possible to arrange the hydrogen supply pipe 16 without increasing the number of parts. Therefore, the configuration of the fuel cell vehicle 10 is avoided from being complicated. Further, the weight does not increase.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to protect or hold the hydrogen supply pipe 16 while maintaining a simple configuration and without causing an increase in weight.

  The present invention is not particularly limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  For example, in this embodiment, a solid polymer fuel cell is employed, but a solid oxide fuel cell having an oxide ion conductor as an electrolyte may be employed.

  Further, the hydrogen supply pipe 16 and the hydrogen discharge pipe 18 may be connected to a surface different from the right side surface of the fuel cell 12, for example, an upper end surface.

  Furthermore, the holder may be in a hook shape, for example. Further, all the holders may be the protectors 32.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fuel cell vehicle 11 ... Front wheel 12 ... Fuel cell 14 ... Hydrogen storage container 15 ... Rear wheel 16 ... Hydrogen supply pipe 18 ... Hydrogen discharge pipe 20 ... Brake line 22 ... Brake pipe 24 ... Brake hose 25 ... Master cylinder 26 ... Front wheel Wheel cylinder 28 ... Rear wheel wheel cylinder 30 ... Holder 32 ... Protector 34, 36 ... L-shaped manifold 50 ... Floor panel 52 ... Center console 56a, 56b ... Cross member

Claims (3)

A fuel cell vehicle equipped with a fuel cell and a hydrogen storage container for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell,
A fuel cell vehicle, wherein a hydrogen supply pipe through which hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen storage container to the fuel cell flows is disposed along a brake line.   2. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen supply pipe is connected to one side surface of the fuel cell on the front side of the vehicle body, and a hydrogen discharge pipe for discharging reacted hydrogen from the fuel cell is on the rear side of the vehicle body. The fuel cell vehicle is connected to the one side surface of the fuel cell.   3. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen supply pipe and the brake line are held by the same holder.

Images